Compared to my other cosplays, Coraline was an easy construct. The blue wig I had from a previous Halloween where Minime and I dressed up as Thing 1 and Thing 2 a la Doctor Seuss. I got the raincoat off Amazon, as well as the dragonfly pin and the button glasses. There is a Coraline accessory kit available. The rubber boots were yellowfied with electrical tape. The make-up proved a bit tricky and at one point, I washed it all off and started from scratch. Beware of dollar store face paint; all it seems to be able to do is remove itself. If I were to attempt Coraline again, I think I would turn up the make-up a notch. But it was great practice for my next cosplay, the Other Mother, which turned out a lot better:) Stay tuned; she will make an appearance on my blog in the coming week or two:)

Oh and the black cat was literally just laying around. My female void was very obliging for the pictures. She loves being held; you can even see her check herself out in the mirror:)

• The Coraline images are courtesy of Minime, under my direction:)

The Bride Clapped a Solo Fandango

the bride road to the beat
of a solo fandango
her thighs gripped tight
her perch atop her mount
at her side, primed
was a loaded pistol

she’d been left alone
abandoned at the altar
her heart sacrificed to the wanderlust
of a no-good, low-down scoundrel

the smoke rolled in
the air hung thick
in her anger, she controlled
the molten and elemental

centipedes and tarantulas
crunched beneath the iron shoes
of her charging steed
her partner in crime
a soul, her equal

her lattice-ribbed corset
burst with the power of a volcano
she’d be constrained no more
by anything vulnerable

flimsy muslin
was replaced with flickering flames
she was reborn
a goddess of fire and creation
now to reign over
ashen and greying mortals

*The Bride Clapped a Solo Fandango is published in Monsters, Avatars, and Angels and available through Amazon in paperback and #kindle.